Pocketbook protective device

ABSTRACT

A protective device for shielding a bottom portion of a pocketbook is provided. The protective device having a cavity defined by a plurality of sidewalls and a flat base, wherein the sidewalls and base are interconnected by fold lines. The sidewalls extend to a peripheral flange that defines an opening communicating to the cavity. An elastic band may be connected along the peripheral flange so that when a bottom portion of the pocketbook is slid into the cavity, a user may selectively cinch the elastic band, securing the peripheral flange against the pocketbook. The protective device folds along the fold lines between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration, wherein the folded configuration is dimensioned to be retained with the pocketbook the unfolded configuration is dimensioned to support.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to pocketbook accessories and, more particularly, to a device for protecting the bottom of pocketbooks.

Pocketbooks can be extremely expensive and are continuously exposed to dirt, grime, and many germs, when placing down on any surface. Many times, women have no choice but to put their pocketbooks down on the floor, when in the car, or bathroom, or restaurant, or friends house, or park. Even in the grocery store, the cart can be dirty and full of germs, and a danger to one's pocketbook. Really everywhere and anywhere one goes, there is no great way to protect the pocketbook. The pocketbook gets dirty, and grimy, and germy. This is very disappointing after spending a lot of hard earned money on a beautiful pocketbook, just to have it ruined, when having no choice but to expose it to all of the unclean surfaces there are out there in the world.

Currently, there are no devices for preventing this travesty. If someone improvised and used material made of some sort of paper to lay their pocketbook on (toilet paper, hand towels, napkins, tissues, newspaper), liquids would permeate such makeshift solution, and onto the pocketbook itself, causing a stain. Furthermore, paper is also very thin, and not a sufficiently protective layer, whereby dirt, grime, stains and germs can penetrate and attach themselves to the pocketbook.

As can be seen, there is a need for a device for protecting the bottom of pocketbooks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a protective device includes a housing having a cavity defined by a base and a plurality of connected sidewalls; an opening communicating to the cavity, wherein the plurality of connected sidewalls define the opening; and a fold line defining each connection provided between adjacent connected sidewalls, and between the plurality of connected sidewalls and the base, so that the base and the plurality of connected sidewalls move between an unfolded condition providing the cavity and a folded condition having a periphery less than a periphery of the opening.

In another aspect of the present invention, the protective device further includes a water-proof or water-resistant material along an outer portion of the base and the plurality of connected sidewalls; an elastic band connected along the periphery of the opening; and a clamping device provided by the elastic band for cinching the elastic band toward a center of the opening, wherein each connected sidewall extends to a peripheral flange, wherein the peripheral flanges further define the opening and at least one corner notch, and wherein the cinching device is disposed adjacent the at least one corner notch.

In yet another aspect of the present invention, the protective device is used to protect a pocketbook by providing a pocketbook retaining the device in the folded configuration; removing the device from the pocketbook; moving the device to the unfolded configuration; and sliding a bottom portion of the pocketbook through the opening and into a portion of the cavity, then selectively engaging the clamping device to cinch the elastic band against a portion of the pocket book, and subsequent use, then removing the pocketbook from the cavity; moving the device to the folded configuration; and retaining the device in the pocketbook.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a protective device for shielding a bottom portion of a pocketbook. The protective device having a cavity defined by a plurality of sidewalls and a flat base, wherein the sidewalls and base are interconnected by fold lines. The sidewalls extend to a peripheral flange that defines an opening communicating to the cavity. An elastic band may be connected along the peripheral flange so that when a bottom portion of the pocketbook is slid into the cavity, a user may selectively cinch the elastic band, securing the peripheral flange against the pocketbook. The protective device folds along the fold lines between an unfolded configuration and a folded configuration, wherein the folded configuration is dimensioned to be retained with the pocketbook the unfolded configuration is dimensioned to support.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention may include a protective device 10 having a cavity 20 defined by a flat base 12 and a plurality of sidewalls 14. Each sidewall 14 may be joined to an adjacent sidewall 14 and base 12 along fold lines 16. Each sidewall 14 may extend to a peripheral flange 18 defining an opening 22 to the cavity 20. In certain embodiments, the peripheral flanges 18 may define at least one corner notch 24.

The cavity 20 and the opening 22 may be dimensioned to take any shape so as to slidably receive various-sized pocketbooks 50, as illustrated in FIG. 1, so long as the protective device 10 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. The protective device 10 may fold along the plurality of fold lines 16 between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration, as illustrated in the Figures. The folded configuration (not shown) may be dimensioned so as to fit inside the pocketbook 50 that it would support in the unfolded configuration. In other words, the folded configuration has a peripheral profile the is less than the profile of its opening 22.

The flat base 12 and plurality of sidewalls 14 may be made of material of sufficient strength so as to be repeatedly bent without fracturing, such as cardboard or plasticized material. Such material or an external covering or lining thereof may be water-proof or water-resistant.

An elastic band 26 may be connected along the peripheral flange 18, biasing the peripheral flange 18 toward the opening 22. A portion of the elastic band 26 may extend through a corner notch 24. Said portion may include a clamping device 28 adapted to decrease the periphery of the elastic band 26 and so decrease the peripheral flange 18, thereby cinching said peripheral flange 18 against anything received in the opening, such as a pocketbook 50.

The present invention may include a case (not shown). The case may be dimensioned and adapted to retain the folded configuration of the protective device 10 so that the case may also fit within the pocketbook 50 that the protective device 10 would support in the unfolded configuration.

In certain embodiments, beads and crystals may be glued to the outside of the protective device 10. Label(s) may be sewn within the cavity 20 and a company logo may be sewn or glued on the outside of the protective device 10.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The protective device 10 disclosed above may be provided. The pocketbook 50 is slid through the opening 22 and into the cavity 20 prior to putting the pocketbook 50 on any surface. The user may selectively engage the clamping device 28 so that the elastic band 26 hugs the pocketbook 50. The protective device 10 will protect against dirt, grime, stains, germs, on multiple surfaces, such as bathrooms, sinks, shopping carts, car floors and seats, restaurant floors, driveways, ground, pavements, grass, outdoor benches, movie theatre floors, amusement park surfaces, etc. Once the protective device 10 is not required, the pocketbook 50 is picked up, the user can take it off, fold it into the folded configuration, and put it inside the pocketbook 50, in the case it came with. The protective device 50 and case can be washed, and is a reusable item.

In certain embodiments, the protective device 10 may be disposable, and so some of the materials of the sidewalls 14 and base 12 may be less expensive and less sturdy.

The present invention can also protect other items in addition to pocketbooks 50, depending on size and dimensions. Items it can protect would include totes, laptops, wallets, diaper bags, laptops (electronics), diaper bags, cell phones, and other such products.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A device, comprising: a housing having a cavity defined by a base and a plurality of connected sidewalls; an opening communicating to the cavity, wherein the plurality of connected sidewalls define the opening; and a fold line defining each connection provided between adjacent connected sidewalls, and between the plurality of connected sidewalls and the base, so that the base and the plurality of connected sidewalls move between an unfolded condition providing the cavity and a folded condition having a periphery less than a periphery of the opening.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a water-proof or water-resistant material along an outer portion of the base and the plurality of connected sidewalls.
 3. The device of claim 2, further comprising an elastic band connected along the periphery of the opening.
 4. The device of claim 3, further comprising a clamping device provided by the elastic band for cinching the elastic band toward a center of the opening.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein each connected sidewall extends to a peripheral flange, wherein the peripheral flanges further define the opening and at least one corner notch, and wherein the cinching device is disposed adjacent the at least one corner notch.
 6. A method of protecting a pocketbook using the device of claim 5, comprising: providing a pocketbook retaining the device in the folded configuration; removing the device from the pocketbook; moving the device to the unfolded configuration; and sliding a bottom portion of the pocketbook through the opening and into a portion of the cavity.
 7. The method of claim 6, further comprising selectively engaging the clamping device to cinch the elastic band against a portion of the pocket book.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising removing the pocketbook from the cavity; moving the device to the folded configuration; and retaining the device in the pocketbook. 